Arming Sword and Shield sources?

[Sam Nankivell]

I would like to be directed to any primary sources for sword and shield work. They seem to be quite rare compared to the plethora of sources for instruction on the longsword. Thanks.

[Jaron Bernstein]

I would like to be directed to any primary sources for sword and shield work. They seem to be quite rare compared to the plethora of sources for instruction on the longsword. Thanks.

Di Grasi has some larger shield + C&T sword material. There are any amount of manuals that cover sword and buckler. Ringeck, the I:33, Paulus Kal and Talhoffer come immediately to mind.

[Jon Pellett]

As Jason said. Also there are Marozzo and Manciolino (who teach round arm-strapped shield, buckler, square targa, and kind of kite shield thing; they also have spear and shield), and the various sources for duelling shield (Talhoffer, Kal, Codex Wallerstein, Gladiatoria).

More round shield in Agrippa, which is kind of early rapier I guess. There is also round shield in Capo Ferro, but that is rapier; and in Page, which is broadsword.

All of these are available online.

HTH

[Jay Vail]

I would like to be directed to any primary sources for sword and shield work. They seem to be quite rare compared to the plethora of sources for instruction on the longsword. Thanks.

Yesterday Amazon delivered an Osprey book that provides some insight into sword and shield fighting methods. It's titled "Byzantine Infantryman," and covers the period 900-1204. On p. 30, there are drawings of Byzantine coffin carvings depicting the following guards: plow, wrath and ox.

You can take it from there. I am willing to argue that longsword technique is largely derived from the arming sword, especially after having had the benefit of Stew's sword-and-buckler class at the IG-07. But to really make the leap, I'd want to work with Stew on understanding the I33 because you could extrapolate from that to the larger shield, I think. The result would be conjecture, if course, but perhaps we could say informed conjecture.

[Sam Nankivell]

Thanks for the info. I am just really curious about where J.C. got his material for the "sword and shield" section of his book "Medieval Swordsmanship". It seems like quite a complete section, yet I can't find much mention about the use of an arming sword with a heater shield anywhere else.